203 – Steve Gadd: The undisputed master of groove
“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
Steve Gadd needs no introduction. He’s a living legend who has played on monumental records with Steely Dan, Chick Corera, James Taylor, Paul Simon and countless others. He’s highly regarded as one of the greatest drummers in the world and has shaped the landscape of modern drumming in ways too numerous to count.
From his signature sound on Paul Simon’s 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover to his solo on Steely Dan’s Aja, Steve Gadd is the epitome of a world-class player – so much so that’s he often referred to as: Gadd Almighty
“Every drummer wants to play like Gadd because he plays perfect…. He has brought orchestral and compositional thinking to the drum kit while at the same time having a great imagination and a great ability to swing.” – Chick Corea
There are few players who can boast a resume like Steve’s, but what makes him even more unique is his signature sound and the ability to serve the music with effortless mastery.
Steve Gadd talks about:
- Growing up in Rochester and how it shaped his sound
- His move to NYC and the recording scene at the time
- Developing musical ideas
- Thoughts on ego, humility and serving the music
- Practice advice
- The difference between music and the music business
- Stuff (the band)
- Much more
Resources and Links Mentioned:
- Contact Steve Gadd: Website | Facebook
- Stuff (band)
- Catalina Jazz Club
- The Leprechaun (Chic Corea Album)
Steve Gadd Plays:
- Yamaha Drums
- Vic Firth Sticks (Signature Model)
- Zildjian Cymbals
- Earthworks Microphones
- Remo Heads
- LP Percussion
- Zoom Recorder
Drummer’s Resource Podcast is free thanks to:
DW Drums: I’ve been playing DW for years…not only because they make high-quality, handcrafted drums but because they support and foster drumming initiatives all over the wold, much like this podcast. I’m thrilled to announce that DW has signed on to support Drummer’s Reosource for 2016! Be sure to check them out today and DWDrums.com.
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